Making a visit to Moreton Bay's Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef on June 8, dubbed World Ocean Day, Mr Miles said Southeast Queensland must respect turtles in Moreton Bay.

Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles with his son Aidan on Moreton Bay.

Photo: Supplied

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"More than half of the marine life killed by boats and other vessels in Queensland is in Moreton Bay," Dr Miles said.

"On average 32 green turtles, three loggerhead turtles and one dugong are reported killed each year by vessels in Moreton Bay."

Dr Miles was raising the profile of injuries to turtles when they are struck by boats, or swallow plastic, either as cups or bags which turtles confuse as jellyfish.

"The terrible toll on marine life is one of the reasons the Queensland Government is looking at a possible restrictions on single use plastic bags," Dr Miles said.

"We have established an Advisory Group to assist in preparing for public consultation later this year on a container deposit scheme and plastic bag use."

Dr Miles warned plastic bags were sadly returning to Moreton Bay because public attention decreased around the issue.

"Between 2003 and 2005 major retailers did significant voluntary work to reduce the use of plastic bags," he said.

"In the 10 years since the voluntary action expired plastic bag use has started to increase again."

The government has warned Brisbane residents their plastic bags, bottles and other waste are putting turtles in Moreton Bay at risk.

"Moreton Bay has long been a fertile environment for beautiful turtles," Dr Miles said during a trip to inspect the Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef in Moreton Bay.

"But we are putting them at risk by plastic debris. The turtles confuse the plastic for food and eat it.

"The plastic causes blockages in their digestive system, leaving them unable to feed and facing a slow and painful death.

"A recent survey by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection found 40 per cent of small turtles passing through the bay had eaten plastics.

"Seventy per cent of the endangered small loggerheads had also ingested plastic debris.

Plastic debris can leave turtles washed up dead or dying on Queensland's beaches.

Moreton Bay Marine Park has six of the world's seven turtle species; the leatherback turtle, the loggerhead turtle, the flatback turtle, the Pacific ridley turtle, the green turtle and the hawksbill turtle. Only Kemp's ridley turtle is not found in Moreton Bay Marine Park.

Green turtles eat the seagrass in Moreton Bay, while loggerheads eat the shellfish, crabs, sea urchins and jellyfish that live in the seagrass.

However while Moreton Bay is an important feeding ground, it is not a major breeding or nesting area.